Fiber optic splice closure and assemblies

ABSTRACT

Fiber optic splice closures adapted to house a large number of fiber splices. The closure holds a splice assembly including a support frame that supports two stacks of splice trays. The splice assembly can be inverted to access the second stack of splice trays. The support frame can also define one or more fiber organizing areas within the splice closure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is being filed on Jun. 13, 2018 as a PCT InternationalPatent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/520,209, filed on Jun. 15, 2017, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Fiber optic cables house optical fibers used to carry optical signals toand from telecommunications equipment. Typically, large cables, such astrunk cables, house a large number of fibers. The fibers of the trunkcable are spliced and then routed to a desired destination, (e.g., abuilding). Due to the large number of fibers being spliced and the needto protect the splice, the trunk cable is often terminated in a fiberoptic splice closure. Such fiber optic splice closures typically includean outer ruggedized and sealable shell defining an interior volume andone or more ports for cable access to the interior. The closures can beadapted for outdoor or indoor use. The interior volume of a spliceclosure typically houses structures and equipment to splice and organizefibers to facilitate both storing of fibers and routing of fibers totheir desired destinations.

SUMMARY

In general terms, the present disclosure is directed to a fiber opticsplice closure adapted to house a large number of fiber splices.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber opticsplice closure includes a first shell piece defining a first shell piecevolume and a second shell piece defining a second shell piece volume,the first and second shell pieces adapted to be sealingly coupledtogether to form a shell defining at least one cable port and aninterior splice volume consisting of the first and second shell piecevolumes.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, an assembly fora fiber optic splice closure includes a support frame, the support framecomprising a main plate having an upper surface and an opposing lowersurface, the support frame defining a first fiber organization volumeadjacent the upper surface and a second fiber organization volumeadjacent the lower surface; a first splice tray stack comprising aplurality of fiber optic splice trays, the first splice tray stack beingcoupled to the support frame and disposed such that first fiberorganization volume is positioned between the upper surface of the mainplate and the first splice tray stack; and a second splice tray stackcomprising a plurality of fiber optic splice trays, the second splicetray stack being coupled to the support frame and disposed such that thesecond fiber organization volume is positioned between the lower surfaceof the main plate and the second splice tray stack.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a cable closureincludes a first shell piece defining a first interior volume; and asecond shell piece defining a second interior volume, the first andsecond shell pieces being couplable together to define a sealed closurevolume including the first and second interior volumes; a first splicetray stack disposed in the first interior volume; and a second splicetray stack disposed in the second interior volume. In some examples, thecable closure defines at least two cable ports each adapted to receive aportion of at least one cable entering the closure volume. In someexamples, a support frame is disposed between the first splice traystack and the second splice tray stack. In some examples, the supportframe includes a plate and defines a first fiber organization volumedisposed between a first side of the plate and the first splice traystack within the first interior volume, and the support frame furtherdefines a second fiber organization volume disposed between a secondside of the plate and the second splice tray stack within the secondinterior volume, the second side being opposite the first side.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a fiber opticsplice closure includes a support frame, the support frame comprising aplate having opposing first and second surfaces, a first plurality oflegs extending from the first surface in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first surface, and a second plurality of legsextending from the second surface in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the second surface, the first plurality of legs and thefirst surface defining a first fiber organization volume, the secondplurality of legs and the second surface defining a second fiberorganization volume.

In some examples, the frame further comprises two or more feet, at leastone of the feet extending from one of the first plurality of legs, andat least another of the feet extending from one of the second pluralityof legs, each of the feet extending substantially parallel to the firstand second surface, the one or more feet adapted to support at least onesplice tray.

In some examples, a splice tray support structure is securable to theframe, the splice tray support structure being adapted to support afirst stack of splice trays on one side of the frame, and a second stackof splice trays on a second side of the frame, the second side beingopposite the first side.

In some examples, the splice tray support structure includes a platformand a stem, the stem being received in a slot disposed in the platformand having a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, thefirst and second mounting portions being on opposite sides of the slotand each of the first and second mounting portions being adapted tomount a splice tray stack.

In some examples, each splice tray stack includes a spine defining aplurality of sockets, each socket adapted to rotationally receive a pinof a splice tray, the pin and socket forming a hinge adapted to pivotthe splice tray relative to the spine.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a splice closureassembly includes a fiber optic splice closure comprising a shelldefining a plurality of cable ports and an interior splice volume, asupport frame disposed in the interior splice volume, the support framecomprising a plate having opposing first and second surfaces, a firstplurality of legs extending from the first surface in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first surface, and a second pluralityof legs extending from the second surface in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the second surface, the first plurality of legs and thefirst surface defining a first fiber organization volume, the secondplurality of legs and the second surface defining a second fiberorganization volume, a first stack of splice trays mounted to thesupport frame and disposed in a portion of the interior splice volumeopposite the first surface of the support frame, and a second stack ofsplice trays mounted to the support frame and disposed in a portion ofthe interior splice volume opposite the second surface of the supportframe. The cable ports can be positioned relative to the support framesuch that the cables are approximately equidistant from each of the twosplice tray stacks. Such a configuration can reduce the amount of fiberlength needed for the fibers to reach a given splice tray.

In some examples, the splice closure assembly includes at least oneinput cable entering the interior splice volume through a first of theplurality of ports, and at least one output cable exiting the interiorsplice volume through a second of the plurality of ports, one or morefibers of the at least one output cable being spliced to one or morefibers of the input cable in one or more splice trays of the splice traystacks. In some examples, due to the placement and orientation of thecables entering the closure relative to the splice tray stacks, thefibers from the cable(s) enter and exit the one or more of the splicetrays along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axisof the hinge by which the tray is pivotally coupled to the tray stack.

The fibers spliced in accordance with the present disclosure can beindividual fibers or sets of coupled fibers, such as ribbonized fibers.

According to further aspects of the present disclosure, a kit forassembling a splice closure assembly comprises: a support frame, thesupport frame comprising a plate having opposing first and secondsurfaces, a first plurality of legs extending from the first surface ina direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface, and asecond plurality of legs extending from the second surface in adirection substantially perpendicular to the second surface, the framefurther comprises two or more feet, at least one of the feet extendingfrom one of the first plurality of legs, and at least another of thefeet extending from one of the second plurality of legs, each of thefeet extending substantially parallel to the first and second surface;and/or a splice tray support structure securable to the frame, thesplice tray support structure comprising a platform and/or a stem and/orone or more fasteners for securing the platform and the stem to thesupport frame.

According to still further aspects of the present disclosure, a methodfor splicing a plurality of fibers from a cable comprises: mounting afirst stack of splice trays to a first side of a support frame; mountinga second stack of splice trays to a second side of the support frame,the second side being opposite the first side; storing fiber slack in afirst fiber organization volume defined on a first side of the supportframe; splicing a first subset of the fibers from the cable on one ormore of the splice trays in the first stack of splice trays; invertingthe support frame; storing fiber slack in a second fiber organizationvolume defined on a second side of the support frame, the second sidebeing opposing the first side; and splicing a second subset of thefibers from the cable on one or more of the splice trays in the secondstack of splice trays.

In some examples, the method further comprises loading the support frameand the mounted splice stacks containing the splices into a closure andsealing the closure.

In some examples, the method further includes securing the cable to thesupport frame. In some examples, the cable is a first cable, and thesplicing is performed to one or more fibers of at least a second cable,the method further comprising securing the first and second cables tothe support frame.

In some examples the cable includes N fibers (N being a positiveinteger), wherein N/2 or approximately N/2 fibers are routed to andspliced on splice trays of the first stack of splice trays and N/2 orapproximately N/2 fibers of the N fibers are routed to and spliced onsplice trays of the second stack of splice trays. In some examples, N isat least 4,000. In some examples, N is at least 5000. In some examples,N is at least 6,000. In some examples, N is 6,912, with 3,456 fibersspliced on splice trays of the first stack of splice trays and the other3,456 fibers spliced on splice trays of the second stack of splicetrays.

In some examples, the cable is a first cable sealable in a first port ofa closure, and the fibers of the first cable are all spliced to fibersof a second cable that is sealable in a second port of the closure,and/or wherein the first port and the second port are disposed on thesame side of a plurality of sides of the closure, and/or wherein thefirst cable and the second cable are both secured to the support frame,and/or wherein longitudinal axes of the first and second cables aresubstantially perpendicular to a stacking axis of the first and thesecond stacks of splice trays, and/or wherein the inverting stepincludes revolving the first and second cables about each other.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows. The aspects relate to individual features and tocombinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoinggeneral description and the following detailed description are exemplaryand explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventiveconcepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of thepresent disclosure and therefore do not limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. The drawings are not to scale and are intended for use inconjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.Embodiments of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described inconjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals denotelike elements.

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an exampletelecommunications closure in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telecommunications closure of FIG. 1in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the splice assembly of FIG. 1 includingan example attachment subassembly.

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the splice assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top, rear perspective view of the example support frame ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top, front perspective view of the support frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the support frame of FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the support frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the platform of the attachmentsubassembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a further perspective view of the platform of the attachmentsubassembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the stem of the attachment subassembly of FIG.3.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the stem of the attachment subassemblyof FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the stem of the attachmentsubassembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the spine of one of the splice traystacks of the splice assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a further perspective view of the spine of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the spine of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged top perspective view of the splice assembly ofFIG. 1 without the trough.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the splice assembly ofFIG. 1 without the trough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrepresent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views.Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of theinvention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attachedhereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification arenot intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the manypossible embodiments for the claimed invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example telecommunicationsclosure 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the telecommunications closure 100 of FIG. 1 in anassembled configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the closure 100 includes a first shell piece 102defining a first shell piece volume 104 and a second shell piece 106defining a second shell piece volume 108, the first and second shellpieces 102 and 106 adapted to be sealingly coupled together to form ashell 110 defining cable ports 112 and 114 by which cables 10, 20 enterthe splice closure. When assembled, the closure 100 defines an interiorsplice volume consisting of the first and second shell piece volumes104, 108. In some examples the first and second shell piece volume 104and 108 are equal or nearly equal.

In this example, each cable 10, 20 includes an outer jacket housing aplurality of optical fibers. The cables 10, 20 are each defined by theirlongitudinal axes A1 and A2, respectively. Each cable 10, 20, caninclude one or more tubes or layers within the jacket to provideprotection and/or strength to the cable, and the fibers housed in thecables 10, 20 can include one or more protective layers (e.g., coating,cladding, and/or buffer layers) surrounding the bare fiber(s). Thefibers can be individual fibers or sets of coupled fibers, such asribbonized fibers.

The fibers of one of the cables 10, 20 can be spliced within the closure100 to corresponding fibers of the other one of the cables 10, 20 forrouting optical signals to desired destinations.

Although in the example embodiment shown only two cable ports areprovided, it should be appreciated that the shell 110 can defineadditional cable ports. For example, the fibers of a first cable can bespliced in the closure 100 to fibers of a plurality of discrete cables,each of which can be provided with its own sealable port in the shell110.

Each of the cables 10, 20, can house a large number of fibers, such asat least 4,000, at least 5,000, at least 6,000, etc. In one particularexample, each cable 10, 20 houses 6,912 fibers ribbonized in 576ribbonized cables each containing 12 fibers.

However, it should be appreciated that the cables 10, 20 canalternatively house fewer fibers, or any suitable number of fibers forsplicing within the closure 100.

The shell 110 has a plurality of sides 120, 122, 124, 126. In thisexample, the ports are disposed in the same side 120 of the closure 100.In alternative examples, one or more ports can be disposed in othersides of the shell 110.

The shell 110 can be made of a ruggedized, weather resistant material.First complementary coupling components (e.g., the latches 130) on oneof the shell pieces 102 can be adapted to lockingly mate withcorresponding coupling components (e.g., the slots 132) of the othershell piece 106 to assemble the shell 110. A seal, e.g., a gel seal, canbe provided between the shell pieces, and additional seals can beprovided in the ports 112, 114 surrounding the cables 10, 20 toeffectively seal off the interior splice volume from the environmentexterior to the closure 100.

The closure 100 also includes a splice assembly 200 removably housed inthe interior splice volume defined by the shell 110. The splice assembly200 includes a support frame 202, and first and second splice traystacks 204 and 206. Optionally, the splice assembly 200 can be supportedin a trough 208 that also fits inside the interior splice volume definedby the shell 110. When the closure 100 is assembled, one of the splicetray stacks 204 is disposed substantially or entirely within the firstshell piece volume 104 or the second shell piece volume 108, while theother of the splice tray stacks 206 is disposed substantially orentirely within the other of the first shell piece volume 104 and thesecond shell piece volume 108.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the splice assembly 200 of FIG. 1. FIG.4 is a further perspective view of the splice assembly 200 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an attachment subassembly 220 mounts thecables 10, 20 and the first and second splice tray stacks 204, 206 tothe support frame 202. In this example, the subassembly 220 includes aplatform 222, a stem 224, a pair of cable brackets 226, and a bridge228. The bridge 228 connects the brackets 226 to each other, and mountsthe brackets 226 to the platform 222. The platform 222 is coupled to thesupport frame 202 and supports the stem 224, the step passing through aslot 230 in the platform 222. The stem 224 mounts the first and secondsplice tray stacks 204 and 206, and thereby couples the splice traystacks 204 and 206 to the support frame 202. Each of the brackets 226partially surrounds, grips, and secures a portion of one of the cables10, 20. The brackets 226 are mounted to the support frame 202 and can bepositioned at or near the cable ports 112, 114 of the closure 100 andaxially aligned with the cable ports 112, 114.

Each of the splice tray stacks 204, 206 includes a plurality of splicetrays 240. In the example shown, each stack includes eight splice trays240 for a total of sixteen splice trays 240 that are accommodated withinthe closure 100. Each splice tray stack 204, 206 can optionally includemore or fewer splice trays 240. Each splice tray 240 is configured tosupport splices between first groups of fibers and second groups offibers, e.g., between fibers of the first cable 10 and fibers of thesecond cable 20. Fiber slack can be routed within the interior volume242 defined by the tray 240, and stored (typically in loops) in the area243 of the interior volume 242 between the hinge 245 and the spliceholders 244. A plurality of splice holders 244 disposed in the interiorvolume 242 can support the splices. Lengths of fibers can enter thesplice tray from a hinged side 246, an opposing free side 248, and/oroptionally from one or more other splice trays 240 via one or moreopenings 250 disposed in the primary support surface 252 of the tray240. Typically, due to the placement and orientation of the cables (10,20) entering the closure relative to the splice trays 240, the fibersfrom the cable (10, 20) enter and exit the one or more of the splicetrays from the hinged side 246 along a direction that is substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the hinge by which the tray is pivotallycoupled to the tray stack.

The splice trays 240 in each splice tray stack (204, 206) are pivotallymounted at their hinged side 246 to a spine 260. In the example shown,each spine defines a plurality of stepped sockets, each socket adaptedto rotationally receive a pin or other rotating hinge member to hingedlycouple the splice tray 240 to the spine 260. Thus, the pin and socketfor each splice tray can form a hinge adapted to pivot the splice trayrelative to the spine.

FIG. 5 is a top, rear perspective view of the support frame 202 ofFIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a top, front perspective view of the support frame 202of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the supportframe 202 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a side view of the support frame 202 ofFIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the example support frame 202 includes a mainplate 270 having a top surface 272 and an opposing bottom surface 274.Each of the top and bottom surfaces 272, 274 defines a plane, the planesbeing parallel to each other. A first plurality of legs 276 extend fromthe top surface 272 in a substantially upward direction, i.e., in adirection substantially perpendicular to the top surface 272 and awayfrom the bottom surface 274. A second plurality of legs 278 extend fromthe bottom surface 274 of the plate 270 in a substantially downwarddirection, i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to thebottom surface and away from the top surface 272.

The plate 270 has a front 271 and a back 273. In this example, the front271 is substantially free from legs to facilitate attachment of theattachment subassembly 220 to the plate 270. One or more through holes279 extending through the plate 270 (between the top and bottomsurfaces) can receive fasteners to secure the attachment subassembly 220(e.g., the platform 222) to the plate 270.

The legs 276 and the top surface 272 define an upper fiber organizationvolume 280 above the plate 270, and between the front 271 and the back273. The legs 278 and the bottom surface 274 define a lower fiberorganization volume 282 below the plate 270, and between the front 271and the back 273. Each of the upper and lower fiber organization volume280, 282 can be adapted and utilized for the storage of fiber slackwithin the closure 100. The slack can be associated with the fibers ofany of the cables entering the closure 100, i.e., on either side of agiven splice supported on a splice tray within the closure. In someexamples, the upper and/or lower fiber organization volume 280, 282 canbe provided with one or more fiber storage or management elements, suchas spools, bend radius limiters, etc. to facilitate the storage of,management and organization of fiber slack. It should be appreciatedthat the fiber organization volumes 280, 282 each define an area withinthe closure 100 where there are no splice trays.

The example support frame 202 also includes a plurality of upper feet284 and a plurality of lower feet 286. Each of the feet 284, 286 extendsfrom one of the legs 276, 278, each foot extending substantiallyparallel to the first and second surface and over/under the first andsecond surface. The upper feet 284 can provide a surface to support oneof the splice tray stacks 204, 206. Similarly, the lower feet 286 canprovide a surface to support the other of the splice tray stacks 204,206, particularly when the splice tray stack is above the feet relativeto the ground. It should be appreciated that alternative configurationsother than the depicted leg and foot structures can equivalently providefor dual fiber organization volumes 280, 282 on either side of the plate270 to support the tray stacks and also separate the tray stacks fromthe fiber organization volumes. For example, the tray stacks can beself-suspended via their connection to the spine 260 such they remaindisposed away from the plate 270, thereby defining the fiberorganization volumes 280, 282.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the platform 222 of the attachmentsubassembly 220 of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is a further perspective view of theplatform 222 of the attachment subassembly 220 of FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is aside view of the stem 224 of the attachment subassembly 220 of FIG. 3.FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the stem 224. FIG. 13 is a furtherperspective view of the stem 224.

Referring to FIGS. 9-13, in this example, the platform 222 includes anupper surface 291 and a lower surface 293. An extension piece 292extends from the platform 222 and can be adapted to abut and/or coupleto the bridge 228 described above. The platform 222 includes a pluralityof through holes 290 configured to align with the through holes 279 ofthe support frame 202. A fastener (e.g. a bolt or screw) can be receivedin the through hole 290 and the corresponding through hole 279 to securethe platform 222 to the support frame 202.

The stem 224 extends between a top end 301 and a bottom end 303, andincludes first and second substantially vertical portions 300 and 302extending parallel to a vertical axis A3. The vertical portions 300 and302 are joined to each other with a substantially horizontal portion 304extending substantially parallel to a horizontal axis A4. The verticalportions 300 and 302 can be tapered as shown to accommodate an angled orstepped portion of a splice tray stack. Each of the vertical portions300 and 302 includes at least one through-hole 308 adapted to receive afastener for securing a portion of one of the splice tray stacks 204,206. The horizontal portion 304 includes one or more through-holes 306configured to align with corresponding through holes 296 in the platform222. Thus, the horizontal portion 304 can be adapted to at leastpartially abut the platform 222.

As indicated, the example platform 222 includes features adapted tosupport a stem (e.g., the stem 224 of the attachment subassembly 220).In this regard, the platform 222 includes an elongated through-slot 294configured to receive a vertically oriented portion of the stem 224(e.g., the portion 300 or the portion 302), and one or morethrough-holes 296 are configured to align with correspondingthrough-holes 306 on the horizontally oriented portion 304 of the stem224. The stem 224 can be secured to the platform 222 with fastenersinserted in the thorough-holes 306 and the corresponding through-holes296.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the spine 260 of one of the splice traystacks 204, 206 of the splice assembly 200 of FIG. 1. FIG. 15 is afurther perspective view of the spine 260 of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a sideview of the spine 260 of FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 14-16, the example spine 260 includes a support 311and a plurality of sockets 312 arranged in a stepped configurationrelative to a horizontal axis A5 and a vertical axis A6. The support 311supports the sockets 312. In this example, the spine 260 includes eightsockets 312, though more or fewer sockets could be provided. Each socket312 is adapted to receive and rotationally house a pin or similarcomponent of a splice tray 240 of one of the splice tray stacks 204,206, the pin and socket forming a hinge adapted to pivot the splice tray240 upward relative to its corresponding socket 312. Pivoting of asplice tray 240 in this manner can provide access to another of thesplice trays 240 in the same stack. A horizontally extendingthrough-hole 314 in the spine 260 is configured to align with one of thethrough holes 308, 310 of the stem 224. In this manner, a fastener canbe passed through the through-hole 314 and the correspondingthrough-hole 308, 310 to secure the spine 260 to the stem 224, andthereby to secure one of the splice tray stacks 204, 206 to theattachment subassembly 220.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged top perspective view of the splice assembly 200of FIG. 1 without the trough 208. FIG. 18 is an enlarged bottomperspective view of the splice assembly 200 of FIG. 1 without the trough208.

Referring to FIGS. 17-18, the lowermost splice tray 240a of the splicetray stack 204 abuts the upper surfaces of the feet 284 of the supportframe 202, leaving the upper fiber organization volume 280 free andclear. Similarly, the uppermost splice tray 240b of the splice traystack 206 abuts the lower surfaces of the feet 286 of the support frame202, leaving the lower fiber organization volume 282 free and clear.

As shown in FIGS. 17-18 with respect to the attachment subassembly 220,the through-hole 314 of each spine 260 aligns with the through-hole 308or the through hole 310 of the stem 224. The through-holes 306 on thehorizontal portion 304 of the stem 224 align with the through holes 296of the platform 222. The upper vertical portion 300 of the stem 224 isreceived in the elongated slot of the platform 222. The through-holes279 of the support frame 202 align with the through holes 290 of theplatform 222.

When fully assembled and fastened together, the splice assembly 200shown in FIGS. 17-18 can provide easy access to the splice tray stack204 for performing fiber splices on the trays 240 of the splice traystack 204, each of the splice trays 240 in the stack 204 being pivotablerelative to the spine 260 to provide access to each of the trays 240individually. The splice assembly 200 can then be flipped or invertedrelative to the horizontal (i.e., relative to the planes formed by thetop and bottom surfaces 272 and 274 of the main plate 270 of the supportframe 202) in order to provide pivotal access to the splice trays 240 inthe splice tray stack 206. It should be appreciated that either splicestray stack 204, 206 could be provided with splices first, and the otherstack second.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 17-18, a method for splicing a pluralityof fibers can include one or more of the following steps, which need notbe performed in the recited order: mounting a first stack 204 of splicetrays 240 to the upper side of the support frame 202; mounting a secondstack 206 of splice trays 240 to the lower side of the support frame 202to provide a splice assembly; splicing a first set of fibers from thecable 10 on one or more of the splice trays 240 in the stack 206 ofsplice trays 240 to fibers in the cable 20; inverting the support frame202 relative to the horizontal; splicing a second set of fibers from thecable 10 on one or more of the splice trays 240 in the stack 204 ofsplice trays 240 to the cable 20; loading the splice assembly containingthe splices into a lower shell piece 102, 106 of the closure 100 andsealing the closure 100 with the other shell piece. In some examples,the method further includes securing the cables 10, 20 to the supportframe 202.

In some examples the cable 10 includes N fibers (N being a positiveinteger or an even positive integer), wherein N/2 fibers are spliced onsplice trays 240 of the stack 206 of splice trays and the other N/2fibers of the N fibers are spliced on splice trays 240 of the stack 204of splice trays. In some examples, N is at least 4,000. In someexamples, N is at least 5000. In some examples, N is at least 6,000. Insome examples, N is at least 6,912.

In some examples, the method further includes storing fiber slack in oneor both of the upper fiber organization volume 280 and/or the lowerfiber organization volume 282 defined by the support frame 202.

In some examples, the method further includes sealing the cables 10, 20in ports 112, 114 of the closure 100. In some examples, the invertingstep includes revolving the first and second cables 10, 20 about eachother.

In some examples, the trough 208 can be used to facilitate transferringof the splice assembly 200 into and out of a shell piece 102, 104 of theclosure 100.

Although in the foregoing description, terms such as “top,” “bottom,”“front,” “back”/“rear,” “horizontal,” and “vertical” were used for easeof description and illustration in relating features to one another, norestriction on the use of the components and assemblies of thisdisclosure is intended by such use of the terms.

Having described the preferred aspects and embodiments of the presentdisclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts mayreadily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended thatsuch modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto.

1. An assembly for a fiber optic splice closure, the assemblycomprising: a support frame, the support frame comprising a main platehaving an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the support framedefining a first fiber organization volume adjacent the upper surfaceand a second fiber organization volume adjacent the lower surface; afirst splice tray stack comprising a plurality of fiber optic splicetrays, the first splice tray stack being coupled to the support frameand disposed such that first fiber organization volume is positionedbetween the upper surface of the main plate and the first splice traystack; and a second splice tray stack comprising a plurality of fiberoptic splice trays, the second splice tray stack being coupled to thesupport frame and disposed such that the second fiber organizationvolume is positioned between the lower surface of the main plate and thesecond splice tray stack.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprisingan attachment subassembly adapted to couple the first and second splicetray stacks to the support frame.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, whereinthe attachment subassembly comprises a platform couplable to the mainplate and a stem having first and second vertical portions joined by ahorizontal portion, the stem being received in a slot of the platform,the horizontal portion abutting a primary surface of the platform, andwherein each of the first and second vertical portions mounts one of thesplice tray stacks.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein each of thesplice tray stacks includes a spine, the spine defining a plurality ofsockets, each of the sockets adapted to receive a pin for pivotallymounting a splice tray, and wherein the spine is adapted to be coupledto one of the first and second vertical portions of the stem.
 5. Theassembly of claim 3, wherein the platform includes an extension pieceadapted to couple to a cable mounting component.
 6. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a first plurality of legsextending substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface and awayfrom the lower surface, and a second plurality of legs extendingsubstantially perpendicularly from the lower surface and away from theupper surface, the first plurality of legs and the first surfacedefining the first fiber organization volume, and wherein the secondplurality of legs and the second surface define the second fiberorganization volume.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein a foot extendsfrom one or more of the legs, the foot extending substantially parallelto the first surface and the second surface and adapted to abut andsupport a splice tray of one of the first and second splice tray stacks.8. A cable closure comprising: the assembly according to claim 1; afirst shell piece defining a first interior volume; and a second shellpiece defining a second interior volume; wherein the first and secondshell pieces are couplable together to provide the cable closuredefining a closure volume, the closure volume including the first andsecond interior volumes; and wherein the cable closure defines at leasttwo cable ports each adapted to receive a portion of at least one cableentering the closure volume.
 9. The cable closure of claim 8, whereinthe first interior volume and the second interior volume are equal. 10.The cable closure of claim 8, wherein a first cable is supported in oneof the cable ports and includes a first set of optical fibers, wherein asecond cable is supported in another of the cable ports and includes asecond set of optical fibers, wherein at least some of the first set offibers are spliced to at least some of the second set of fibers onsplice trays of the first splice tray stack and; and wherein at leastsome of the first set of fibers are spliced to at least some of thesecond set of fibers on splice trays of the second splice tray stack.11. The cable closure of claim 10, wherein the first and second cablesare mounted to the support frame.
 12. The cable closure of claim 10,wherein the first cable carries N optical fibers, N being a positiveinteger, wherein approximately N/2 of the fibers of the first cable arespliced on splice trays of the first splice tray stack, and whereinapproximately N/2 of the fibers of the first cable are spliced on splicetrays of the second splice tray stack.
 13. The cable closure of claim12, wherein N is at least 6,000.
 14. The cable closure of claim 8,wherein the closure comprises a plurality of sides, and wherein theports are disposed in the same side of the plurality of sides.
 15. Amethod for splicing a plurality of optical fibers from a cablecomprising: mounting a first stack of splice trays to a first side of asupport frame; mounting a second stack of splice trays to a second sideof the support frame, the second side being opposite the first side;storing fiber slack in a first fiber organization volume defined on afirst side of the support frame; splicing a first subset of the fibersfrom the cable on one or more of the splice trays in the first stack ofsplice trays; inverting the support frame; storing fiber slack in asecond fiber organization volume defined on a second side of the supportframe, the second side being opposite the first side; and splicing asecond subset of the fibers from the cable on one or more of the splicetrays in the second stack of splice trays.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising loading the support frame and the mounted splicestacks containing the splices into a first shell piece, and coupling asecond shell piece to the first shell piece to form a closure around thesupport frame and the mounted splice stacks containing the splices. 17.The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the cable to thesupport frame.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the cable includes Nfibers, N being a positive integer, wherein the splicing includessplicing approximately N/2 of the fibers on splice trays of the firststack of splice trays, and wherein the splicing includes splicingapproximately N/2 fibers of the N fibers on splice trays of the secondstack of splice trays.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein N is at least6,000.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the cable is a first cable,and wherein the splicing includes splicing fibers of the first cable tofibers of a second cable, the second cable being mounted to the supportframe.
 21. A cable closure comprising: a first shell piece defining afirst interior volume; and a second shell piece defining a secondinterior volume, the first and second shell pieces being couplabletogether to define a sealed closure volume including the first andsecond interior volumes; a first splice tray stack disposed in the firstinterior volume; and a second splice tray stack disposed in the secondinterior volume.
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)
 25. Asupport frame for a fiber optic closure, comprising: a plate havingopposing first and second surfaces; a first plurality of legs extendingfrom the first surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to thefirst surface; and a second plurality of legs extending from the secondsurface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the secondsurface, the first plurality of legs and the first surface defining afirst fiber organization volume, the second plurality of legs and thesecond surface defining a second fiber organization volume. 26.(canceled)
 27. (canceled)
 28. (canceled)